Paint transfer device



May 9, 1961 A. M. DISCIPIO PAINT TRANSFER DEVICE Filed June 24, 1959NVENTOR. 872% BY U fid States Paten' f i This invention relates todevices used in painting and more particularly to a device fortransferring paint or the like from a container to a roller typeapplicator.

The invention comprehends an attachment which can be demountably securedto a conventional paint container, such as a gallon can of the type inwhich paint is normally sold, and which is operable to transfer paintfrom the interior of the container directly to a roller type paintapplicator.

As is known by those familiar with the art of painting and paintapplicators, the conventional method of applying paint to a roller typeapplicator is to first pour the paint from its original container into arelatively low flat pan or tray, and then dip the applicator into thetray and roll it back and forth until it is covered with paint. 4

Although this type of an arrangement is satisfactory for a paintingoperation wherein the paint container and the tray can be convenientlylocated on the floor or on a table, the use of the tray is far moreinconvenient on jobs requiring a scaffold or a single ladder. Theinconvenience of using a roller type applicator and tray while workingon a single ladder renders this type of painting operation highlyimpractical.

In addition to the disadvantage of carrying or supporting the tray fromthe ladder, there is the added necessity of periodically pouring thepaint from its original container to the tray. Also, when the largesurface of the paint in the tray is exposed to the air, it tends tothicken or congeal far more rapidly than does paint kept in an ordinarygallon paint can.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide adevice for transferring paint or the like from an original paint can orcontainer directly to a roller type applicator without requiring the useof a tray or pan.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device fortransferring paint to a roller type applicator which can be demountablyattached directly to the can in which the paint is acquired.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a devicewhich includes a housing attachable to a paint can and mounting a pairof rollers and a belt carried by the housing and operable to transferpaint or the like from the interior of the can to a roller type paintapplicator.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from anexamination of the following description and drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with portions of thestructure shown in vertical section, of a paint can and a paint transferdevice embodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, of the structureillustrated in Figure 1.

It will be understood that certain elements have been intentionallyomitted from certain views where they are illustrated to betteradvantage in other views. Referring now to the drawing for a betterunderstanding of the invention, it will be seen that a paint transferdevice embodying features of the invention, and indicated generally at10, is shown as attached to a conventional paint container indicatedgenerally at 12. The container may be of any type such as a pail orbucket, but the container illustrated in the drawing is a container ofthe type in which paint or the like is normally sold in retail channels,that is a one-gallon can having a lid (not shown) which seats on anannular rim or lip 14.

The paint transfer device 10 is adapted to be mounted on the can 12 andit includes a frame or housing structure 16 having a cylindrical wall18, the lower edge of which is adapted to be received within an annularrecess 20 presented in the upper side of the paint can lip 14. Ifdesired, the lower edge of the frame wall 18 may be provided with arubber gasket (not shown) to insure a more liquid tight fit between theframe 16 and the can 12.

In order to facilitate its rigid attachment to orremoval' from a paintcan, the frame 16 may be provided with a pair of J-hooks 24 which aredisposed within sleeves or eyelets 26 presented on opposite sides of theframe wall 18.

As best seen in Figure 2, each J-hook 24 has at its lower end an outturned portion 28 which is engageable with the under side of the can lip14. At its upper end, each J-hookis provided with a threaded portion 30adapted for engagement with a wing nut 32. Thus, the frame can bedemountably attached to a paint can merely by placing the frame wall 18within the recess 20 of the can lip 14, threading the J-hooks untiltheir lower portion engages the underside of the can lip, and thentightening the wing nuts 32.

Once the frame is so attached to the paint can, both the frame and cancan be lifted or supported as a unit by a bail or loop 34 which may berigidly secured to an upper portion of the frame in any desired manner.7

Additionally, frame 16 includes a pair of vertically extending supportmembers 36 which may be formed integrally with or rigidly secured toopposite sides of frame wall 18.

The vertical support members 36 may be provided at their upper and lowerends with transversely extending aligned openings or slots 38 adapted torotatably receive or journally mount the ends of shafts 40 and 42 ofupper and lower rollers 44 and 46, respectively.

The rollers are held in position on the frame and are connected to eachother by a preferably semi-elastic continuous annular belt or track 48which is disposed to surround portions of the rollers so as to transferpaint from the interior of the can to a roller type applicator (notshown) which may be placed against the outer surface of the belt at theupper roller 44 as the upper roller is turned or rotated by any means,such as the detachable handle 50, which may be secured in any manner tothe end of the roller shaft 40.

If desired, the handle may be replaced by a small battery operatedelectric motor (not shown) which can be mounted on the frame 16 so as tobe operable to rotate the rollers 44 and 46 and thereby move the belt48. i

In order to prevent slippage between the rollers and the belt, therollers may be provided with a roughened outer surface as indicated at52.

The bottom roller may also be provided with a plurality of inwardlyextending blades or paddles 54, best seen in Figure 2, which serve toagitate the paint in the can as the rollers are turned. 7

To assemble the device, one of the rollers is placed within the belt andits ends are disposed within slots 38 at one end of the frame, the otherroller is then slipped li atented May 9, 19 61 within the belt and itsshaft ends are mounted in the slots 38 at the other end of the frame.elastic belt permits this simple mounting arrangement; however, ifdesired, any other journalling means may be provided for rotatablymounting the roller shafts within the slots of the frame.

After the rollers and belt have been mounted on the frame, the frame isthen mounted on the can 12 with a cylindrical wall 18 of the frameseated in groove 20 of the paint can lip 14.

The J-hooks 24 are then moved into position to engage the under side oflip 14 and wing nuts 32 are tightened.

The device is then ready for use. To use the device, all that isnecessary is to rotate the upper roller 44 by turning the crank andwhile the roller is being rotated placing a portion of the paintapplicator roller against the belt so that the paint is transferred fromthe can to the applicator by means of the belt. If the applicator iswider than the roller 44, then the applicator can be applied to the beltin sections merely by moving the applicator axially as the belt ismoving against it.

Although the arrangement illustrated in the drawing is adapted for usewith a paint can having a lip 14, if it is desired to modify the devicefor use with containers having no lips, any suitable clamp means may beemployed.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a device of relatively simpledesign and construction which may be readily attached to a conventionalpaint can and which is operable to transfer the paint directly to aroller type applicator without the need of any additional pans, trays,or other paint containers.

I claim:

1. In a device for transferring paint from a standard cylindricallyshaped paint can, having an annular lip ex- The use of a semi'-.

tending inwardly from its upper edge, to a roller type applicator, thecombination of: a frame, readily attachable to said can, including apair of horizontally spaced vertically extending side members havingupper and lower ends disposed for positioning Without and within thecan, respectively, and an integral annular member adapted to seat onsaid lip; releasable clamp means carried by said frame for engagementwith the underside of said lip to secure the frame to the can andthereby permit the latter to be suspended from the former andtransported therewith as a unit; a pair of vertically spaced upper andlower rollers rotatably carried by the upper and lower ends of theirrespective rollers for positioning without and within the can,respectively; an endless conveyor belt disposed to surround and snuglyengage both rollers; and means to rotate the upper roller and therebymove the belt around the rollers into and out of the can.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said bottom roller includespaddle means disposed internally thereof for agitating paint as itrotates.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes apairof J-clamps carried by the frame and adapted to engage the undersideof the lip of the paint can.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said frame annular member isadapted to seat in an annular groove in the lip of the paint can.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS386,792 Switzer July 24, 1888 1,705,450 Mullen Mar. 12, 1929 2,669,965Coughlan Feb. 23, 1954 2,688,305 Wray et al. Sept. 7, 1954

